of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



231 



Ballantrae District. 



The general results of the fisheries of this district for 1912 may be 

 regarded as satisfactory. The returns, when compared with those of 

 1911, show marked increases, due mainly to a very successful herring 

 fishing in the early months of the year, and again in December. Steam- 

 line fish also helped to swell the figures. A feature of the year was 

 the high prices ruling for fresh herrings, especially from May till the 

 end of December. 



In the means of capture the most noticeable feature is the large 

 increase in the number of motor boats. In 1911 the total number of 

 motor craft was 18, while during the year under review there were 40 

 fishing. Another point to be noted is the tendency to go in for motors 

 of greater power than hitherto. Several owners in this district dis- 

 carded their 7-9 motors and installed engines of 15-20 h.p. The most 

 popular motor is the Kelvin. Although only two boats were built 

 within the district, five new craft were added to the fleet, two of which 

 were fitted with motors, and cost £250 each. 



The winter herring fishing was a distinct success. Loch Ryan was 

 the principal centre of operations, although Ayr Bay was favoured by 

 some of the crews, and, later on, the Ballantrae Bank. The quantity 

 landed was 11,160 crans, valued at .£10,834, as against 4861 crans and 

 £4669 in the preceding year. The best week produced 4817 crans, 

 valued at £3935. The quantities taken by the respective modes of 

 capture were as follow — namely, 10,251 crans, valued at £9643, by 

 seine nets; 837 crans, valued at £1079, by trammel nets; and 72 crans, 

 valued at £112, by drift nets. From the foregoing it would appear 

 that seine-net herrings were not so valuable as drift or trammel net 

 fish, but such is not the case. Supply and demand rule the market. 

 When herrings are marketed by all three modes of capture on the same 

 day there is little or no difference in ruling prices. The average price 

 was 19s. 4d., as against 19s. 2d. in 1911, and 17s. lOd. in 1910. 



By the time the herrings reached the Ballantrae Bank the weather 

 had become very broken, and the fleet had often to remain in harbour. 

 Fish were taken from this ground only eight times between 12th 

 February and 16th March, when the fishing closed. The quantity 

 landed was 3763 crans, all caught by seine nets, no attempt being made 

 to fish the Bank with either trammel or drift nets. There was no 

 herring fishing whatever on the Bank in 1911. 



The summer herring fishing opened about the usual time — the middle 

 of May. Drift nets were used at the start, but later on both drifts 

 and seines were brought into operation. The quantity landed by the 

 respective modes of capture from May to September inclusive was, by 

 drift nets 2281 crans, and by seine nets 1860 crans. Throughout the 

 season the quality was generally good, and prices maintained an 

 unusually high level. The average price for the period referred to 

 (35s. 2d. per cran) was exceptionally good. After September the usual 

 slack time set in, and 10 boats left for the north-west lochs. One 

 crew grossed £236. The others after a few weeks returned home after 

 an unsuccessful voyage. 



In December herrings were discovered in Ayr Bay, and also in Loch 

 Ryan, and had the weather been more propitious, better results would 

 doubtless have been obtained. As it was, this month yielded 3058 

 crans, which sold at an average price of 32s. per cran. The highest 

 price touched was 82s. per cran. With reference to the weather, it 

 may be of interest to relate that five boats fishing flounder nets from 

 Girvan got to sea only three times during the last month of the year, 

 their total catch being under 2 cwts. of plaice. 



